Your simplest solution would be to use Texas Zephyr's advice for a second bank of selectors. Gets you another cab with out reworking what you have already.
See and I'm DCC but I've wired a ton of DC layouts too.
I am still DC and am preparing to start a slightly larger layout, which will be DC to start, but DCC is lurking in the mind, though far down in the wallet.
My plan for a larger layout, now on hold, was to have a main control panel with two power packs A & B. Each yard would have its own power pack and bank of Selectors. Position A would be power from the master control panel , position B, the local power pack. Since I have tethered throttles I will only have one control panel with two power packs on the layout I am working on now. If I ever get to do my dream, I will do as above if I can't afford the DCC at the moment. It will be insulated so that I can establish districts, should I need to at a later date.
Good luck,
Richard
keithh9824,
I too,am a diehard,DC user. Three-cab.MRC control master 20's. All hand held,two insulated rails,with double track main line.. No Atlas controllers anywhere. But all Altlas, switch machines,under table,and snap-relays,to control indicator lights on control panel and to power the frogs. All power comes from,it's own dedicated transformers. The only thing that the Mrc'S do is for the power to the track. Have not had any problems with the atlas machines at all... One time I drilled a hole for a frog feeder and drilled right into the coil on the machine,, Human error,,, I forgot that I had put that machine in reverse,, Ha HA, THAT BEING SAID,, I do run at times DCC engines,with sound, I have six of them and it works for me... So it has worked for going on 35yrs now and being 3months shy of 70, I 'll stay DC....
Cheers,
Frank
Analog DC, MZL system with common rail. When the layout is fully built out I will be able to have independent control of a dozen moving trains at one time if there are operators available (or I acquire and train a couple of octupi.) The system is comparatively user friendly, much more so than the 'one cab selector switch per block' cab control systems. Theoretically, I could have five operators controlling separate locos on my 15 x 96 inch 'end of the railroad' module - except that there isn't room enough for the 1:1 scale bodies.
MZL is not for the faint of heart, or the electrically challenged. The wiring IS complex, but it makes the front of the control panels simple.
As an aside, with the exception of MRC power packs I avoid using anything other than standard electrical parts bought from electrical/electronic supply houses. The 'designed for the hobby' equivalent tend to be of awkward design, inferior quality and more expensive than the standard items. A good toggle switch and a good push button don't cost as much or take up as much panel space as an Atlas switch controller - and one glance will tell you which way the points were last thrown. Then, go to Tortoise or KTM switch machines for quality and durability. (My personal use of Atlas products begins and ends with flex track.)
Chuck (Modeling Central Japan in September, 1964)
Keith,I still use DC but,I use a dual mode MRC Tech 6..I only use DCC for my DCC/Sound equipped locomotive.I have no desire to go 100% DCC.
As far as Atlas Selectors/controllers I used them on my few loop layouts and 2 of my larger ISLs and they work as intended.I never wired a toggle switch in the 55 plus years I been active in the hobby since I like the simple one block one wire selectors offered and block wiring doesn't get any simpler then that.
The most power packs I ever used was four..2 for the double track main line,Cab C for the yard and cab D for the engine terminal.All sectores had a "interchange" block..That's where I could bring a train into the yard using the mainline cabs..The other "interchange" block was between cab C and cab D.
Larry
Conductor.
Summerset Ry.
"Stay Alert, Don't get hurt Safety First!"
keithh9824I was just wondering if there is anyone left that still uses DC i know of two people on the forums that still use dc.
It is all done the wiring and trains are running.I have 2 packs from mrc and i use atlas selectors. If i do a cab C for my yard i will have to wire that totally seperate from cab A & B.
It works like this, if the original set of selectors is set to A it works just like today. If the original selectors are set to the old B then the power going to it is determine by the second set of selectors which would choose B or C.
So it is really easy. The hardest part is remembering that two selector switch positions must be used to control the track.
The other way to do it would be to rework the panels and change from the Atlas selectors, replacing them with 3 way toggles or selector switches. Of course if you did that I would go with 4 way selector switches just for future expansion.
On last layout silly LION thought to have SIX Throttles on his DC layout.
Here is picture of old control panel:
Each row of these gang switches represented a branch (east, west, north, and south) and could be connected to any one of six power packs. You can see the power packs below the control panel. I used my own reversing switches rather than the ones with the power pack. It eventually got too complicated for the LION to keep it figured out, and him could no longer fit under the tables.
New Layout: No power packs, no throttles, no reversing switches: trains are automatic. LION can work on railroad and have five trains running at the same time. LION has good ears, and can hear if one of them is in trouble. Nice LION, Him make nice railroad.
ROAR
The Route of the Broadway Lion The Largest Subway Layout in North Dakota.
Here there be cats. LIONS with CAMERAS
Keith, I too am still using DC for power and I just got back into the hobby. You can incorporate a third control source but it will take some special wiring . You need a DPDT toggle switch . I have a wiring diagram in a book but I tried taking a picture to show you but it is unreadable. let me know if you need more info and I will do my best to help, Joe
I use DC, or atleast the most basic one powerpack rendition of it when I do run the trains. I need to figure out how to wire, make blocks, and all of this other very hard to understand stuff.
SP&S modeler, 1960's give or take a decade or two for some equipment.
http://www.youtube.com/user/SGTDUPREY?feature=guide
Gary DuPrey
N scale model railroader
fwrightThere is a way to incorporate Atlas products (Controllers and Selectors) to add a third cab for the yard. This is illustrated in the wiring for the Atlas HO-29 Central Midland layout. The wiring shown allows either cab A or B (but not both at the same time) to bring a train into or out of the yard. Cab C is normally used for yard switching.
Hello Keith,
I am still using DC. I operate alone and use the common rail Atlas selector method similar to what Fred describes.
Cab A goes to one side of the selector and CAB B and C use the other, but not at the same time. A DPDT toggle switches between B and C. Most of the time I use Cabs A and B. Occasionally I like to use C because it is a hand held.
Jim
keithh9824 ....It is all done the wiring and trains are running.I have 2 packs from mrc and i use atlas selectors. If i do a cab C for my yard i will have to wire that totally seperate from cab A & B. I was just wondering if i still am in old thinking school but i dont want to convert due to the cost. I am happy with the results just boggled on the Cab C is all.
....It is all done the wiring and trains are running.I have 2 packs from mrc and i use atlas selectors. If i do a cab C for my yard i will have to wire that totally seperate from cab A & B. I was just wondering if i still am in old thinking school but i dont want to convert due to the cost. I am happy with the results just boggled on the Cab C is all.
As you have discovered, the Atlas Selectors are usually set up for a 2 train layout.
There is a way to incorporate Atlas products (Controllers and Selectors) to add a third cab for the yard. This is illustrated in the wiring for the Atlas HO-29 Central Midland layout. The wiring shown allows either cab A or B (but not both at the same time) to bring a train into or out of the yard. Cab C is normally used for yard switching.
Although not done as frequently anymore, replacing the Selectors with 3 (or more) position rotary switches will give the ability to switch between the 3 cabs anyplace on the layout. Or just add the rotary switches for the yard instead of using Selectors. The rotary switches will probably have to be obtained from an electronics supply house unless you have access to a surplus stash.
Although I'm still a DC user at home, I use DCC at the club. I have to say that if you usually have 2 or more operators operating trains on shared trackage, the Atlas Selectors are about the most awkward way imaginable to operate. A DC system with toggle or rotary switches embedded in a layout diagram is easier. Having the switches embedded in a layout diagram makes it easier to know what switch controls what block. And of course, DCC does away with the Selectors, block toggles, or rotary switches.
There are those of us who take DC wiring to another level, typically using a combination of turnout control of blocks, X blocks, route control, and parts of Main-Zone-Local (MZL) control. The reasoning behind these various schemes is to simplify operations (fewer switches to keep track of) while maintaining needed flexibility in track usage.
OTOH, if you are normally operating by yourself, or the trains don't share track very often, the Atlas controls are just fine, and have a much smaller learning curve.
my thoughts, your choices
Fred W
Take three transformers, make the (-) common and this goes to the LEFT rail throughout.
There is one wire coming from the layout, from the right rail, for each block. How many blocks do you have. That is how many switches you will need.
You can use rotary switches, or three position slide switches, or gang switches (The LION loves his gang switches, but has not seen any in All Electronics for years upon years---him thinks he bought the last of them.)
You should be able to do this without major re-wiring on the layout.
Keith,
Although I, myself, use DCC, there are plenty of DCers here on the forum. And there's nothing wrong with staying with DC. It works well and it's reliable. No one's going to hold a gun to your head to change if you are content to stay with DC.
Tom
https://tstage9.wixsite.com/nyc-modeling
Time...It marches on...without ever turning around to see if anyone is even keeping in step.
I was just wondering if there is anyone left that still uses DC i know of two people on the forums that still use dc. I am using cab control on my layout i isolated on both sides of the rail. My old layout i used common wire and had problems. It is all done the wiring and trains are running.I have 2 packs from mrc and i use atlas selectors. If i do a cab C for my yard i will have to wire that totally seperate from cab A & B. I was just wondering if i still am in old thinking school but i dont want to convert due to the cost. I am happy with the results just boggled on the Cab C is all.